I loved Diahann's Norma. So many of them are wonderful, but Diahann's performance, complete with that scream at the end, as her eyes darted around the stage, was frightening and really effective in the theatre.

@jamescarrollau

22 күн бұрын

Diahann's performance is one of the only Norma's firmly based in realism - she realises the consequences of what she's done in one final moment of defiance!

Holy crap...each good in their own way!!

I was fortunate enough to have seen Glen Close's finale, Betty Buckley's First and last performance, Elaine Paige's first performance, and Karen Mason when Buckley was on vacation. Glen Close had a great acting performance. Betty Buckley and Elaine Paige had powerful vocal performances. Karen Mason actually had both the acting and great voice! In Betty Buckley's first performance, she brought the house down when she held the note on "home" in "As if we never said goodbye!" Amazing to see the audience jump to it's feet and stop the show. Btw, just saw Glen Close this evening in the revival: God, she's been taking voice lessons. Amazing performance!

Main takeaway: whoa, Diahann Carroll sounds amazing!

@keshaponso8891

8 жыл бұрын

+Ben Rimalower I only discovered her in the last month.

@danfronckowiak4987

3 жыл бұрын

Really old comment - but the Sunset Boulevard original Canadian cast recording is on Apple Music. It’s probably on Spotify and other streaming services too. Saw her twice and she was really incredible.

So glad to hear Lupone do the “With One Look” reprise. We missed that the first time around and you could tell.

Glenn is the one, nothing to discuse. Even with out an espectacular singing voice, no notes can tell the story his eyes tell.

Betty is my favorite. That growl on "look" is just perfect!

@broadwaylover99

8 жыл бұрын

I completely agree!! Betty is pretty phenomenal!

@tomtoland01

7 жыл бұрын

By far the best

I was fortunate enough to see Glenn Close (twice), Diahann Carroll (twice) and Betty Buckley (once) in the role. They were all great. Glenn Close was terrific from the get-go (I saw her once during her pre-Broadway performance in L.A. and then later during her run on Broadway). Diahann Carroll really grew into the role (I saw her during previews in Toronto when she was really trying to find the character, then later in the run when she had nailed it). I felt that Betty Buckley was the greatest Norma I saw. She really managed to get "inside your head" in the role. I wish I had been able to see Patti LuPone -- or that there was more footage of her in the role. She really got gypped!

Glen Close I think she can pull off crazy really well :)

@peteralfano4278

4 жыл бұрын

Haha...yes. she does play crazy well. Her acting for me beat out her singing

Maureen Moore's gentle baby doll voice freaks me out.. In a good way. ;)

@broadwaylover99

8 жыл бұрын

It is completely different to all the other ladies! I love that :)

@emlodik

8 жыл бұрын

+broadwaylover99 I also felt that Linda Balgord's hysterical Blanche DuBois-style version was very unique.

Patti Lupone kicks ass on that final note. A powerhouse for sure. Thanks for posting this. Love it.

Elaine Paige, that is all☺

Patti, Betty, and Elaine are my favs!

@broadwaylover99

9 жыл бұрын

Can't disagree with you there

Thank you for the opportunity to hear all these gifted performers. I love these sort of comparisons! I am biased. I saw Betty 5 times in London in the role and think she was magnificent: her growl on ‘look’ always catches my breath! I also saw Elaine who was more akin to Glenn’s interpretation of the role though her holding of the final note is outstanding. Betty demonstrated the slinky seductive yet classy characteristics of silent stars. I always feel sorry for Patti. I also saw her in London and she was hampered by a production which wasn’t fully formed, felt rushed, and the finale was lame compared to the revised production which opened with Betty. So for me, it’s Betty, followed by Elaine, Glenn and Diahann. The others also have great qualities, including Petula who struggled with the role but does hold the final note brilliantly. The only one I’m not keen on is Linda. On a separate note, imagine if there had been a movie made with Streisand in the role! There is a missed opportunity!

Patti lupone and Betty Buckley are my favorites

Diahann must have had a dinner reservation. I've never heard anyone rush through that final note as quickly as she did. #BettyBuckleyForever

@kevinr.m.richardson812

7 жыл бұрын

I have to admit that I laughed at the wordless raging she does at the end.

@ramona2400

7 жыл бұрын

It was done as directed. I would agree that Ms. Carroll's finale was moved on fastest than others, but with no loss for crazy drama. Carroll delivered!!!

@kevinr.m.richardson812

7 жыл бұрын

She can ALWAYS be counted on to deliver.

Do you know how many years I have cued up multiple soundtracks of this finale to listen to them in all to answer this question. I love Elaine's physical rendition, Betty Buckley's belt and crazy eyes, Glenn Close has a vulnerability in that she is totally lost in the psychosis.. Debra Byrne (Oh I love you) .. I cannot decide. Though check out the orginal German soundtrack. The orchestra is so tight and on-point it's magical.

@broadwaylover99

8 жыл бұрын

I agree with everything you have said here! To me, they all have incredibly different interpretations of Norma and I think that is testament to the sheer talent of these actresses!

@keshaponso8891

8 жыл бұрын

They are all talented. I had a ticket to see Sunset here in Melbourne in '96 with Hugh Jackman as Joe Gilles and Debra Byrne as Normal. But my parents took my ticket away to punish me for wagging school.

@chocolatesouljah

7 жыл бұрын

Will check out the German cast. I agree with your assessments.

That was fun! Apart from Patti and Linda Balgord I liked them all. My favorites are Betty,Diahann, and...Petula.

@Theonethatgotaway1234

7 жыл бұрын

hnc52 Patti and Linda are the best!!!!!! That's the key it was written in!!!!!!!!

Nobody portrays vulnerable, desperate, and deeply psychotic as masterfully as Glenn Close. Her singing and acting of the role make her Norma Desmond a tear-jerking gut punch.

And yet again, Betty Buckley wins vocally. That growl at the end is fucking scary. Glenn Close wins for acting. Edit: Okay, Diahann was scary too. Nice!

@broadwaylover99

10 жыл бұрын

I'm guessing you're a big Betty fan!! :) She does sound amazing here!! Glenn, while not matching Betty singing wise, does a fantastic job. And don't get me started on Diahann, that was a crazy performance!!

@ramona2400

7 жыл бұрын

Diahann Carroll nailed it in her vocals, acting and classy way. And her growl was the true mark of an insane Norma. I noticed that other than Betty and Diahann most Norma's avoided the growl. It is so hard to do after the note that must be hit on the word me, difficult, most difficult

Thanks! I love this!

Glenn Close forever! She IS Norma Desmond, doesn't simply "act" Norma Desmond!

Patti's original key is astonishing. Everyone else sounds like Gordon McRae's understudy

@broadwaylover99

10 жыл бұрын

Patti does sound great!!

@HouseOnSunset

7 жыл бұрын

Really? She sounds so congested and nasal.

@alvarocastro1997

5 жыл бұрын

I totally agree with you

@pandorabox82

6 ай бұрын

Lololol, you have to be joking!!!!!! She sounds awful, as per usual.

GLEN CLOSE ALL THE WAY!!

I saw Glenn Close in a couple of her first performances as Norma in Los Angeles. Her singing was not that powerful than but damn she could sure act. I think she improved a lot in her singing since that time. Vocally I think Betty Buckley and Elaine Paige are best.

Patti ❤ then Linda (sadly dismissed by cretinics)❤ Diahann Carroll was absolutely superb, but not quite there with the others and then we move to Germany and Helen Schneider absolutely knocked it out of the park. But IMHO, nobody ever ever surpassed Patti ❤❤❤❤❤

Has to be Elaine Paige who sings the hell out of it. (Debra Byrne is the best Fantine I've ever heard too.)

WOW PATTI

I love them all!

@broadwaylover99

9 жыл бұрын

They all give incredible renditions of this song

Glenn Close is the best---her acting is superior

Thanks for posting, its wonderful to hear so many different interpretations of norma, my personal favourites are patti and elaine, with glen and betty a close second. Didnt like petula dinah carrol was very interesting would love to have seen her xx

@broadwaylover99

9 жыл бұрын

I definitely agree with you there, Norma is so easy to interpret in different ways and each actress brings something different to the part :) and Diahann kills it, I would've loved to have seen her too xx

@ramona2400

7 жыл бұрын

Each time I saw the production (7) with Ms Diahann Carroll I was stunned over and over again. She gave a brilliant performance. The rendition used here was very badly recorded, there is another live finale on here just now, it is amazing!!! AND THANKS, THANKS , \THANKS for posting this amazing comparison!!!

Patti and Betty are great of course, but there's at least one Betty rendition of this like better (even more growly). The person who really blows me out of the water here is Karen Mason.

@DistantCousin

9 ай бұрын

Karen's tone is beautiful.

I think Linda Balgord sounds too operatic. She was also Grizabella in "Cats" and her "Memory" was also lacking. She seems to have followed Betty Buckley roles in the 90s but her pipes don't have the belt quality I prefer in those roles.

Karen Mason's meeeeeee is incredible.

@dannyvincent7831

4 жыл бұрын

THAT VOWEL IS PRISTINE!

Elaine paige hands down !!!!

@broadwaylover99

9 жыл бұрын

I'm not the biggest fan of Paige in most circumstances but I think she is outstanding as Norma :)

Linda Balgord's finale is my favorite English version. Helen Schneider's rendition of the finale is my favorite overall.

It's a very good comparison, but next time you should also add some international Normas. :)

Ok but Karen Mason is so underrated

Hey broadwaylover99, do you mind doing another comparison video (updating this one)? I really liked it and it would be great to compare older Normas with the newer ones.

Why was Karen Mason never considered to be a principle Norma? She sounded perfect!

@michaelmiller6579

2 жыл бұрын

I think it was because she was an understudy. I went to see Betty Buckley and got the understudy Karen Mason instead. Mason was very good and even got a standing ovation, however, I thought she was too young for the part and would've preferred Miss Buckley.

No, Faye Dunaway? I guess she didn't register on the audio meter. Only kidding. I loved your video. Thanks for posting it.

@broadwaylover99

8 жыл бұрын

Haha, thanks for your words! I'm still left confused over why Faye Dunaway was ever considered for Sunset!

@neonmoon82

6 жыл бұрын

Because Norma is bigger than life and so is Faye. I actually would have liked to have seen her do the role.

I prefer when they actual sing an “E” vowel

@steventownsley6763

2 ай бұрын

Very, very, very hard to do! Easier to flatten it closer to an ‘a’ vowel! Which is why many singers rarely belt an E to hold for a long time! Particularly for 8 shows a week!

I loved Petula holding note firm though out. Elaine for bashing it out but the class of Glenn makes it her for me

Mason, Moore and Balgord for the win. The others assimilate their ME far too much into "May".

@Chaneloweenz

4 жыл бұрын

The “May” vowel is actually how it’s supposed to be sung.

Karen Mason!

@DistantCousin

6 жыл бұрын

She has a beautiful tone to her voice.

Patti was the first so for me there best. Petula nice surprise. Diahann gorgeous but too pretty for the part but vocally terrific. Elaine nor so good. She sounded flat

Elaine I'd definitely the best one.

Elaine the best...

All but Close as Close is the only one who doesn't act through her singing voice which is the point of music. Patti in the original key and without that final breath but maintaining the power is hard to beat

Patti LuPone hands down! In the original key is amazing! And the best thing about Patti’s singing is she flows right into those high belting notes. She doesn’t have to pause and suck in a big breath to hit the finally note. Brava!

@julieevans2855

3 жыл бұрын

Her enunciation could use some work though. It was hard to understand what she was singing.

@bookemdano7567

3 жыл бұрын

@@julieevans2855... a lot of people say that. I usually don’t have an issue understanding her 🤷🏻‍♂️

@apolloadamos8771

2 жыл бұрын

Julie Evans Agreed. Just her same-old shrill belting.

Where is Simone kleinsma or Pia douwes?

@broadwaylover99

9 жыл бұрын

I only put English language performers in these videos since it's what I know best. From what I've heard in audios, Pia does a brilliant job of Norma!

Patti was the best!

Patti and Betty all the way :)

The only ones the orignals Anderson & Lupone. If Weber wants the biggest hit of his career ---n He make sure that's who hers the roles they created!!!

Patti the best in the original higher key.

still Betty for me. i saw glenn, elaine ,karen and betty.

Patti is the winner.... No one can beat her!

@broadwaylover99

10 жыл бұрын

Patti does an amazing job here!! Such a shame she didn't get a chance to take it to Broadway!!

Erry finale that song & orchestration

The word me is aterrible vowel sound to hold a note on it's a very harsh sound, so the majority of actors/singers turn it round to meh as it sounds better and is easier to hold onto from a breath controll sense xxx just saying xx

@broadwaylover99

9 жыл бұрын

All because Andrew Lloyd Webber has some sort of hatred for women's voices. My proof being Evita and this xxx

@DistantCousin

9 жыл бұрын

Hefin Rosser Exactly - you are obviously someone like me who's had singing lessons!

Remember the key was lowered at the end for Glenn Close and everyone who followed. Only Patti Lupone ever sang it as originally intended. I have seen a lot of these in London and elsewhere the best acting was Elaine Paige by a country mile. The best vocal a tie with Betty and Elaine but saying that no one can dispute the incredible power and range on Lupone. Glenn Close was a superb actress, but was just not powerful enough vocally for me.

Not one of them come close to Patti. Betty does a beautiful job as does Elena but it was Patti’s show.

Patti Lupone is just such a remarkable performer with the power of a thousand suns behind her voice. Every phrase is rich with nuance and character. Easily the best singer of the bunch. Glenn Close is not a great singer, but her acting is superhuman. She oozes the character, and every choice is meticulous and developed. I feel like Betty Buckley manages a happy middle ground. She's a very good singer, but not quite as strong as Patti. She's a remarkable actress, but not freeze-your-blood-in-your-veins good like Close. Insofar as being a musical theatre actress, at least for this role, by managing everything to a brilliant degree, she takes it, at least for me.

Glenn Close by a mile, she becomes Norma. I find Pattie Lupone's voice shrill and harsh. It was a shame that the Australian version didn't succeed.

I love Glenn, Betty, Elaine and Diahann. Linda Balgord is too operatic. Patti sounds rushed and emotionless in her delivery.

Glenn Close pra mim é a melhor.

As usual on this song , terrible diction. The lyrics are Be Me not bey mey!

@DistantCousin

9 жыл бұрын

Darren Lumby Err. It's not a case of diction, it is vocal technique. Singing a "meee" sound which closes up the throat is almost impossible to produce a strong sound from. Adapting the "me" to more of an "ah" sound opens up the throat and produces better sound. The song is in reprise and the scene is more important - you are just nitpicking

@mikeanderson9205

8 жыл бұрын

+Darren Lumby Wow, what you don't know about singing is a lot! Bet you sand in choir though.

@darrenlumby4772

8 жыл бұрын

haha actually I do understand singing and with correct technique you can sing any word and make it sound like it should! I quite clearly know why they are choosing to change the sound to mey, but Karen Mason can do It correctly and a number of other Norma's I've seen can too! so which has the better technique?? the one who can pronounce the word correctly or the one who cant?

@spencer757200

7 жыл бұрын

Well Close is the worst one to be sure and by far the weakest singer. To me her voice is one of two things, ughly chest and paper thin upper range. Great actress terrible singer she really buthchered the aria with her uneven " MEY ! "

@ramona2400

7 жыл бұрын

Diahann Carroll did it correctly

Glenn all the way. I cannot stand Patti in this role.

@pureimagination75

3 ай бұрын

Neither could Andrew Lloyd Webber. That’s why he fired her.

Pointless. Apart from key change fun.